The Down Low on Carrier Oils
You might have heard the term carrier oil, and you might have wondered what exactly that meant. Sure, we all know that carrier oils are there to help dilute an essential oil. However, we might not know which one is the best one to use. We always hear recommendations on which ones are the best, but sometimes what someone else likes might not be what works for us. It also depends on what we want to use the essential oils for, if I want to make something for my hair then a lighter carrier oil might be preferable. If we have dry skin or eczema then certain carrier oils might be more beneficial, or if we are looking specific oils for skin care we might want to pick something else as well.
There are often recommendations to only use FCO (fractionated coconut oil) or a mix of oils that their company sells, but beyond the recommendation of “this is cheap” and “my company sells this” how can we be sure to pick the best carrier oil for what we are wanting? So I have put together this handy guide on carrier oils and some of their best features to help you pick which one would suit you best. I have also provide links (some of these are affiliate links at no cost to you, however if you purchase from them this helps me out).
Carrier oils
Almond oil:
Allows for slower absorption
Calming, can enhance anti-spasmodic effects of essential oils
Can soothe inflammation/peeling from burns
Can relieve itching
Helpful for dry skin conditions
Shelf life: 12 months
Where to buy?
Apricot Kernel Oil:
Faster absorption
Nourishing to the skin
Can relieve itchy skin
Great choice for lotions
Good choice for dry skin conditions
Shelf life: 6-12 months
Where to buy?
Argan oil:
High levels of vitamin E
Anti-aging properties
Useful in hair care, can help dry/frizzy hair
Great choice for skin care, with rejuvenating and regenerating properties
Popular oil choice in commercial hair care
Shelf life: 24 months
Where to buy?
Avocado oil:
Useful for inflammation of the skin
Can help premature aging
Highly moisturizing
Avoid refrigerating to maintain constituents
Popular oil due to its fatty content, a nice choice for lotions and body butters
Shelf life: 12 months
Where to buy?
Coconut oil/FCO:
Good massage oil
Nourishing to hair/scalp; great choice for hair masks
Often used in suppositories because of its ability to become solid and remelt
Helps soaps lather
Anti-bacterial properties make it a favorite choice for oil pulling and oral health
Shelf life of coconut oil: about 2-4 years, FCO can last indefinitely
Where to buy?
Grapeseed oil:
Versatile oil good for most skin types
Good choice for the skin, soothing and regenerative
Hypoallergenic making it an ideal choice even for sensitive people
Less greasy than other oils
Absorbs very quickly
Shelf life: 3-6 months, up to 9 months in the fridge
Where to buy?
Jojoba:
Technically a wax
Anti-inflammatory
Good choice for dry skin conditions
The composition is similar to the skins sebum
Non-greasy option
Shelf life: indefinitely
Where to buy?
Meadowfoam oil:
Stable shelf life
Can penetrate skin easier than other oils
Can delay aging and wrinkles
Able to be heated without going rancid (unlike other oils with a lower heat point such as olive or grapeseed)
Versatile ingredient for adding to products such as lotions, body butters and mixed massage oils
Shelf life: Indefinitely
Where to buy?
Olive oil:
Anti-inflammatory and soothing to the skin (may aggravate dandruff)
Can help relieve the pain of sprains
Anti-septic and anti-aging properties
Astringent and good for bruising
Used internally for lowering cholesterol or excessive bile
Shelf life: 12-18 months
Where to buy?
Rosehip oil:
Excellent skin oil, good for scarring due to regenerative properties
Useful in wound healing and burns
Can help improve eczema and acne
Beneficial to aging skin
Shelf life is very low and can easily go bad however
Shelf life: 6 months
Where to buy?
Sesame oil:
Antioxidant
Helpful in repairing eczema and psoriasis
Useful in treating lice
Soothing to the digestive tract when used internally
Shelf life: 6-9 months, up to a year in the fridge
Where to buy?
Tamanu oil:
Antibacterial; useful for acne, blemishes and fungal infections
Soothing anti-inflammatory properties
Good choice for healing appearance of scares
Analgesic properties make it a useful oil for pain
Shelf life: 12-24 months
Where to buy?
Trauma oil:
This is an herbal blend oil (in olive oil) that you could make or buy
Great for all kinds of topical skin issues
Good to use for bumps, bruising, cuts, scrapes etc (please note trauma oil contains arnica which should not be applied on open wounds as arnica is poison to the blood, apply around a cut or scrape to promote healing and reduce inflammation but do not apply directly to the open wound)
Can help with swelling and inflammation
Shelf life: Will last as long as the carrier used, commonly olive oil is used
Where to buy?
Make your own or purchase a premade blend from aromatics international
Conclusion
Now this is certainly not an extensive list as I did not list every single carrier. I left out some of the more unknown or uncommon ones and I also left out butters and waxes such as shea butter and beeswax. But this will give you a general idea on carrier oils and which ones would be best for you based on their benefits, properties and shelf lives. Hopefully this helps and can shed some light on all the different carrier oils.
When storing always make sure to store oils in a cool/dry and dark location. Avoid UV rays and heat with oils as this can degrade or break down the oil faster. Some oils last longer in the fridge, however some shouldn’t be put in the fridge. Always make sure to check your oil for spoilage, any cloudiness/discoloration or change in scent/taste means the oil has gone bad and it should be tossed out or repurposed for something else (like furniture polish) and should not be used topically or internally. Any debris in you oil means it should be tossed out.
If you have any questions feel free to comment them below or reach out via email, phone or text. Feel free to share you favorite carrier oil and uses as well.
*sources used: Carrier oil profiles by Lea Jacobson, Simply Earth website on carrier oil descriptions, Aromahut course information, Therapeutic blending with essential oil by Rebecca Park Totilo
Thank you so much for reading, your support means a lot. If you have any questions feel free to email me at holisticary@gmail.com or call/text me at 641-631-6355
This blog post was meant to educate and entertain, it is entirely my opinion and not meant to treat or diagnose anyone or to be taken as absolute unwavering fact. Please seek proper medical care and advice. 